Colin Healy should know by the time the Republic of Ireland play Denmark at the end of next month how close he will be to clinching a place in Mick McCarthy's World Cup squad.

Colin Healy should know by the time the Republic of Ireland play Denmark at the end of next month how close he will be to clinching a place in Mick McCarthy's World Cup squad.

On the evidence of his performances since joining Coventry on loan two weeks ago, and after his man-of-the-match display against Russia last night, you could bet your life savings - at this point in time - he will be among the 23 named for the finals in Korea and Japan.

But Healy's fate all depends on what will happen when his loan expires at the end of this month and he has to return to Celtic should Sky Blues boss Roland Nilsson fail to secure the hoped-for extension until the end of the season.

If Healy remains at Highfield Road then he will be on that plane to the Far East, but should he be recalled by Martin O'Neill and he is again relegated to the reserves, then it is unlikely he will be included.

Healy produced a power packed performance alongside idol and Republic skipper Roy Keane at the heart of the midfield, for 45 minutes at least until he was one of the seven players substituted at the interval.

But that will cut little ice with McCarthy if Healy goes back to the Bhoys' second-string, for the Ireland manager wants his players competing at a level for the rest of the season which is as close as possible to that which they will face in the World Cup.

McCarthy, who saw Healy make a stunning debut for Coventry at Crystal Palace which ultimately led to the call up and his subsequent debut at Lansdowne Road last night, said: "I'm delighted I went to see that game.

"I knew about Colin from the under-21s, but I wasn't going to see him play for the Celtic reserves because that's not the place to see a potential new cap perform.

"Martin O'Neill has done him a favour by letting him go on loan. Now some people go out on loan and just go through the motions, but he hasn't done that.

"He has been playing particularly well, and I thought he and Lee Carsley (Healy's second-half replacement) ran the show. I think he thoroughly merited his man of the match award. It was a great performance.

"I would imagine Colin is busting a gut to play first-team football. Martin will have been watching him at Coventry, and I'm sure he will have watched this performance too.

"But if his manager brings him back and says 'that's it' then he can't do anything about it. Colin just has to wait and see and play his games at Coventry.

"But let's not get carried away. Let him enjoy this and then speak to his manager."

Healy was certainly not overawed in making the huge leap from club to international football, particularly in partnering Keane, who could easily have overshadowed the 21-year-old.

"To win my first cap was something else and I was happy with my own performance, but I couldn't believe it when I was named man of the match," said a softly-spoken Healy.

"It was good to have Roy Keane in midfield. As a kid I used to watch him on television, so to play alongside him was a dream come true."

Millwall winger Steven Reid, starting his first game for the Republic and winning his second cap, enhanced his World Cup claims by scoring the opener after just 140 seconds.

Robbie Keane, used to sitting on the bench with Leeds these days, scored the ninth goal of his international career in the 20th minute to clinch victory before Russia's Vladimir Bestchastnykh, Elland Road team-mate Ian Harte and Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison all struck the woodwork.

McCarthy gave a run out to all 23 of his players, which included a debut to another Millwall star in forward Richard Sadlier, who came on for the final 17 minutes.

McCarthy was happy with the contribution from all of the young players, conceding the dilemma he now faces over his final squad selection has intensified.

"It's been nice to see the young lads play and play very well. There were mature performances despite their ages," added McCarthy.

"They've given me something to think about and made my job a lot harder when it comes to picking the squad.

"What I do know is, if it's not the World Cup then the European Championships will be there.

"They have shown me they can compete at this level. But playing in a qualifying game in Moscow, compared to a World Cup game in Japan, is somewhat different."